About
The yellow butterwort, *Pinguicula lutea*, is a perennial herbaceous plant notable for its bright yellow flowers and sticky, mucilage-covered basal rosette leaves. It is a warm-temperate species that traps small insects to supplement nitrogen in nutrient-poor habitats.
Field notes
Morphology
The leaves form yellowish-green basal rosettes, which are simple, ovule to oblong, curved, and pointed. Mature leaves measure approximately 5 to 7.5 cm long and 2.5 cm wide, with rosettes reaching up to 15 cm in diameter. The flowers are yellow, ranging from 1 to 3 cm, and feature five irregular petals and five sepals; one petal forms a 1 cm long slender spur that holds nectar.
Distribution & habitat
It is found along the Gulf Coastal plain of the southeastern United States, specifically in Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, and Southeast Louisiana.
Ecology
The plant traps small insects using sticky mucilage secreted by peduncular glands on the leaf surface. Once trapped, a digestive enzyme is released to extract nitrogen from the prey, allowing the plant to thrive in nutrient-deficient soil.
Habitat
- Altitude
- —
- Altitude Class
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Cultivation
- Difficulty
- intermediate
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